INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Haverford College won the December/January NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll.

The Fords had earned a spot in the monthly poll, for the second time in the last three months, thanks to their volunteer effort at the 2013 Special Olympics Fall Festival hosted by Villanova University at the beginning of November.

Villanova's festival has evolved into the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world and approximately 200 Haverford student-athletes from 13 different varsity teams helped make the 25th installment of the annual event another success.

The NCAA will recognize the Fords’ involvement with the Special Olympics Fall Festival in the D-III Monthly Newsletter and on the D-III social media channels.

The award also entitles Haverford to $500 towards the Athletic Department’s next Special Olympics activity.

The other story featured in the December/January poll was the partnership effort by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and its member institutions with Special Olympics Virginia.

The NCAA encourages D-III student-athletes across the country to participate in existing Special Olympics events, create their own events, or otherwise serve to support Special Olympics organization.

The purpose of the NCAA's initiative is to improve the lives of Special Olympics athletes through their involvement with D-III student-athletes and to foster a mutual learning experience between D-III student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes.

The women's soccer team earned a spot in October's poll for its connection with the Delaware County Special Olympics Chapter.